Mechanism for transferring freight



B. F. FITCH ETAL I 2,304,116

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FREIGHT Filed Oct. 17, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mamie J @154 mi Q W 1 BY WW Dec. 8, W42. B. F. FITCH ETAL MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FREIGHT INVENTORJ v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,IIIIIII Filed Oct. 17, 1940 Dec. 8, 1942. B. F. FITCH ETAL MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FREIGHT Filed Oct. 17, 1940. 4 Sheets-Sheet '3 ENTORVQ QM 4 H112 G: v 1 B i 8, 1942- B. F. FITCH E'TAL 2,304,116

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FREIGHT Filed Oct. 17, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m m in o A 5/ INV NTOR.

Patented Dec. 8, 1942 MECHANISM'YFOR TRANSFERRING FREIGHT Benjamin F. Fitch, Greenwich, Conn, and Ragnar A. Norbom, New' York, N. Y.,

assignors' to National Fitch Corporation, New York, N. Y., a;

corporation of Delaware Application October 17,1940, Serial No. 361,566

'Claims.

This invention relates to a system of transferring freight in demountable containers which may be transported on highway trucks or railway cars and shifted from one to the other in a combined truck haul and rail haul operation. The primary object of the invention is to provide effective mechanism carried by the highway truck and operative to shift the container on the truck to an adjacent vehicle orto pull the container from such vehicle-onto the truck.

For effecting the body-transferring operation, we provide a shiftable carriage mounted on the truck and a propelling chain partly on'th'e carriage and partly engaging a sprocket carried directly by the truck, and a push-and-pull bar adapted to connect the chain with the container. By the operation of the chain, we may shift the carriage partially beyond the edge of the truck, where'we are able to attach the push-ahd-p'ull bar to the chain while the container is in transporting position entirely over the truck. Then by operating the carriage or chain orboth together, we may shift thecontainer not only off of the truck but beyond it on to a freight car or other adjacent vehicle. By a reverse operation we may draw the container from the railway car or other vehicle into position, directly over the frame of the truck, suitable for trans portation.

Our shiftable carriage transferring mechanism is well adapted for mounting transversely'on' the highway truck, which may then be placed alon side of a railway car or othervehicle to or from which the body is to be transferred. In thisc'ase the highway truck preferably has two parallel laterally movable carriages, each carrying its own endless chain, and there are two push-and-pull bars to connect the chains with the container.

The railway car and highwayvehicle areprovided with registering transverse channels adapted to receive skid rails on the bottom of the container, and the highway vehiclelh'as' a pair of bridges which maybe connected to the sideof the car in registration with the channels of the car and truck. This makes a continuous runway from the car to the truck and enables the corn tainer to be pulled off of the car or pushed (into it while the container is maintained in pafallelism with the side of the truck.

Our invention may alsobe employed tobarry the container from the highway truck equipped with our transferring mechanism to an adjacent highway truck equipped only with skid rail chanfnels and meansfor attaching the bridges of that side of the equippedtruck. Where thet f is designed for shifting the body laterally it has bridges at each side, and thus may be readily attached at either side to a' railway car or, for instance, on one side'to a railway carand on the other side to another highway truck.

The shiftable carriages on such installation may be caused by the operation of the chain to shift to either side of the highway truck, until the limit of movement is reached (provided by inter-engaging stops on the truck and carriage) or until the free end of the carriage abuts the side of the railway car or the side'of the additional truck, as the case may be, and then the" chain traveling relative to the carriage may move the push-and-pull bar to effect the transfer as hereinafter explained;

In addition to providing a' combined truck and" railway haul system, the mechanism of this i'nvention is adapted for coaction with branch truck" lines, where the traflic is not sufficient to warrant the use of trucks equipped with transferring" mechanism. Such branch trucks may bring the loaded bodies to a clearance region where they may be unloaded onto the truck equipped with transfer mechanismby the power of the latter truck, and conveyedby such latter truck'to the rail head, or the non-equipped trucks may take the bodies direct to the rail heads, and the equipped truck there used as an intermediate transfer device for carrying the body from the non-equipped truck across the equipped truck to the raliway car, or vice versa.

Our invention is illustrated in the drawings hereof, which show an approved embodiment-of the transfer mechanism, and also by diagrams of operation, all of which is'about to be explained;

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of a highwaytruck (of the tractor, trailer type) equipped with our transfer mechanism, this view showing also a-portion of an adjacent railway" car; and a-containerflon the car connected with'thetransfer mechanism on the truck; Fig. 2 is an end view of such a truck and railway car, as shown in Fig. 1, and showing also a local truck'adapted to receive or discharge the container by'the mechanism of the equipped truck, shown'ce'ntrally-in this figure; Fig. 3 is avertical section'through the truck equipped with" our transfer'mechanism; Fig. 4-is a horizontal section through a portion of one of the shiftable carriages-of the truck, as indicated by the line 44 on Fig: 3; Fig. 5 is-a detail in elevation, showing a portion of the shiftable carriage and chain, the latter coupled to the pus'h-and-pull bar; Fig: 6 is a vertical section through the carriage chain:and-push-and-pull bar connection, as indicated by the line 6-6 on Fig. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the chain-driving mechanism, as indicated by the line '!-1 in Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a sectional end elevation illustrating the carriage in extended position suitable for starting the movement from the flat car, the position of this section being indicated by the line 8-8 on Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a detail in end elevation, showing the attachment of any of the bridges to the highway truck and at the far end to the railway car, the position being indicated by the line 9-9 on Fig. 1.

The remaining figures are diagrams, in thenature of end elevations, illustratingthe position of the parts during the transfer operation, Figs. 10,11 and 12 relating to the transfer of the container from the flat car to the truck; Figs. 13, 14 and 15 from the truck to the flat car; Figs. 16,17 and 18,from a truck equipped with our propelling mechanism to an adjacent local non-equipped truck. More particularly, Fig. 10 indicates the position of the parts, at the beginning of the operation of drawing the body-from the flat car by a movement of the chain on the carriage; Fig. 11 indicates the position of the parts at the completion'of such movement of the chain, where the movement of the carriage with the chain is about to begin; Fig. 12 indicates the position after th carriage and chain have moved as a unit far enough to bring the body directly over the truck in position for transportation; Fig. 13 is a view of the parts in a position very similar to Fig. 12, but with the connections ready for starting the movement from the truck to the flat car; Fig. 14 is a view illustrating the end of this movement of the chain; Fig. 15 is a view indicating'the subsequent movement of the carriage and chain as a unit to complete the'shoving' cf the body onto the flat car; Fig. .l6 indicates the initial position of the carriage in shoving the body by means of the chain from transporting position on the truck onto the local truck at the left thereof; Fig. 17 indicates the stage at the completion of such chain movement of the body; Fig. 18 indicates the final position where the shifting onto the local truck has been completed by moving the carriage and the chain as a unit.

Asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates'a highway truck, which may be of the tractor-trailer type, and is equipped with our transfer mechanism; B indicates a railway flat car; C a local truck; D a container adapted to be carried on any of the three vehicles A, B or C. Each vehicle is equipped on its upper face with transverse channels a, b, and 0, respectively, which may receive skid rails d on the under side of the container. The main frame of the equipped truck is provided at each side with a pair of bridges E which may extend various distances from the side of the truck and which are adapted for attachment at their-far ends to the adjacent vehicle. The railway car is equipped atits side with'foldingwings F adapted for attachment at the end of the bridge. Likewise, the local truck 0 is provided with similar folding wings F-l The attaching devices enable the bridges at eitherside of the main truck to be attached either to a railway car or to a local truck, or the'three vehicles may be thus connected together, as shown in Fig. 2, with their channels all in registration, the space between such channels being occupied by the bridges E, which form guides for the skid rails and supports for part of the weight of the container in passing from one vehicle to the other.

The propelling mechanisms on the main truck,

about to be described, are connected with the container D by push-and-pull bars G, which are attached at one end to the sides of the container near its base and at the other end to the laterally traveling propelling mechanisms on the highway truck. This will be best understood after we have described the propelling mechanism itself.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive, the main sills of the chassis on the truck A are shown as a pair of outwardly facing channel beams Iii. On top of these beams, extending cross-wise thereof, over suitable pads II, are a. pair of transverse angle beams having vertical flanges l2 and horizontal outwardly facing flanges l3. The flanges l2 are spaced apart to house the carriage and guide it by their inner faces. The angle beams are connected with the longitudinal chassis beams ID by gussets l5 welded to the vertical flanges l2, to the horizontal flanges l3, and to the longitudinal beams. At their free ends the flanges l2 are tied together by cross rods H mounted in bracket plates 18 welded to the sides of the flanges I2 and these rods carry rollers 19 between the brackets, making a convenient support for the carriage, as will later be more fully described; h

It will be understood that the construction just described is duplicated so that'it occurs at two spaced regions in the truck. The gussets I5 may lead continuously from one transverse housin to theother and beyond the two housings brace members may lead to the ends of the truck-platform.

In the two housings are two chain-carrying arms or carriages, which will now be described. Each carriage or arm is composed of a hollow substantially square beam 20, Fig. 7, to the opposite vertical faces of which are welded reinforcing plates 2 I. These plates'extend above and below the hollow beam and provide, in effect, channels along the top and bottom of the beam. On the upper face of the hollow beam is a substantially flat supporting bar 22 which forms a guide for the upper reach of the endless chain carried by the carriage. This chain extends around the end of the carriage'and beneath it Where, being itself supported, it supports the carriage.

The chain is composed of overlappingside links 30 arranged intwo spaced series, transverse pins 3| pivoting the overlapping links together and connecting the two series to each other in spaced relation and rollers 32 On'the pins between the innermost links. This chain lies in a vertical course, the upper reach horizontal with the rollers 32'resting or rolling on the track bar 22.

The chain 30 .passes abouta pair of sprocket wheels 40, each of which is-journalled in a yoke 4|, which is slidably mounted in'the guides 25 and 26 carried by the end castings which form a continuation of the-plates 2|;of the-carriage. The end of the yoke 4| 'is abutted by a screw 45 which is threaded ina-block 21 secured in the end of the hollow beam 20. .The angular heads of the screws- 45 are accessible through openings 28 in the carriage, thus enabling the yokes'and sprocket wheels to be shoved outwardly to provide a proper tension on the chain.

The carriages are adapted to be projected to either side of the truck by operation of the'chain, as later described. 'When so projected, the carriage is adapted to assume anangle belowthe horizontal, so that it may more surely abut an adjacent vehicle below its upper edge, fora purpose to be later described. To this end, the castthe rollers I9 when the carriage is in the central traveling position on the truck, as shown in Fig.

3. When the carriage is moved outwardly, however, the leading projection 24a rides down off the roller and the carriage is henceforth supported at an angle, resting on the chain links 30 at the idler sprockets 53 and 55 and at the roller l9, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The projections 24a, as illustrated in Figs. and 6, comprise vertical webs 241), at either side of the casting, having outwardly extending flanges at their ends and bottoms. Hook-shaped pockets 95 are thus formed, the purpose of which will be later described.

The chain is adapted to be engaged by the push-and-pull bar, the other end of which is attached to. the container, and, as hereinafter explained, the chain may move relative to the carriage or move as a unit with the carriage and in either case may effect the shifting of the container through the push-and-p-ull bar.

At the center of the truck is a shaft 50 carrying a sprocket wheel 5| and on opposite sides of this shaft are shafts 52 and 54 carrying sprock-.

et wheels 53 and 55 respectively. The chain 3 is endless, its lower reach passing beneath the sprocket 5| and in engagement with it, and on.

each side thereof passing over the sprockets 53 and 55 and in engagement with them. All of the shafts 50, 52 and 54 are rotatably mounted in.

facing teeth which are adapted to extend into. the spaces between the. rollers 32 ofthe. chain. a? The transverse pin by which'the links H are pivoted to the block 12 also carries a pair. of downwardly extending arms 16 which have heads 11 at their lower ends adaptedto engage in hook-shapedrecesses 29 in the castings 24 of the carriages. 'As shown, the two bars 16 extend downwardly on opposite sides of the block 12 and the heads 11 occupy the hooked recesses 29, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and in this position the chain, through the block12 and arms (6, is attached for onedirection of movement to the carriage that-is to say, if the upper reach of the chain moves to the rightin Fig. 5 it must carry the carriage-with it, as hereinafter explained in connection with the diagrams. 1 We have referred to thebridges E connecting the truck with the adjacent vehicle. As shown, these. bridges are 'slidable, when not in use, into transverse housings a 2 .carried by the truck frame., When in use they extend various plings and reduction gearing 60 to a driving motor 6| on the truck, as indicated in Fig. l. The

reduction gearing includes .a worm and'wormv wheel, which renders the chain self-locking in any position.

-When the motor 6! is operated, the .driven shafts 54 rotate the corresponding pinions 58 and through them gears 51, and thus rotate the driv-, ing sprockets 5| to move the chains. Now, if the carriage is held stationary the propelled chain will travel about the two sprockets 40. If, however, the carriage is free to move it is possible for the chain to pull the carriage so that the.

chain and carriage shift as amnit. The operation of our system, in the embodiment herein illustrated, depends onthis characteristic of the chain sometimes moving relative to the .carriage and sometimes moving as a unit with the carriage. This will be clear when wedescribe the operation after completing thedescription of the structure.

The push-and-pull bar G, which may be formed according to Patent No. 2,087,249, issued ,July 20,

1937, to Benjamin F. Fitch, has at its free end a flattened head g which may pass through a verticalslot in the side of the container, if the push-and-pull bar is held so that the head is at right angles to the position shown in Figs. land 8, and then when the bar is turned into the'position shown the head glies behind the walls of the slot, thus anchoring the bar at that end. At its other'end the bar G has a downwardly facing curved portion 10 at the opposite sides'of which distances out of the housings, as shown in Fig. 9, and are pivotally locked in such position by suitable latches 8| on the sides of the housing. The construction may be such that each bridge has a row. of recesses 80 on its opposite sides, any of ,which may be occupied by a ball 8 I, forcedtoward the bridge by a camming device 82 on the side of the housing. When the truck is brought into position at the side of the railway car or the other vehicle, the bridges are drawn out towards such other vehicle and the free ends are attached thereto by the wings F or F-l, and then the ball locks 8| applied to force the opposed balls into selected opposed recesses to lock the bridges in position on the truck.

In considering the operation of our transfer system, suppose a truck arrives empty adjacent a flat car and it is desired to draw a container from the car onto the truck. The first operation, after the bridges are attached, is to operate the driving sprocket 5! in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 10 to 18.

This pulls on the left hand portion of the lower reach of the chain and thus pulls the carriage toward the right. The carriage continues to move in this direction until it is stopped either by its hooked end engaging the stop on the truck or more usually, by the end of the carriage abut ting the side .of the car B, as shown in Fig. 10.

0 intended travel. Now, the power is turned on in the same direction. as before and this pulls the lower reach of-the chain toward the right.

As the carriage can move no further toward the right, the pull on the lower reach of the chain is transmitted to movement of the upper, reach toward the left relative to the carriage and this 7 pulls the container along over the chain until the pull bar is near the. end ofits possible travel.

7 When the pull barreaches the end of the v -travel,-the heads. ll, which have ,been riding i are pivoted a pair of'links 1|. Below the bar Y I these links carry a block-12 having downwardly Then the push-and-pull bar G is at 7' on thertop of the side plates-"2| 'of the carriage,- come" opposite the --openings ':-t29- anddropintosuch openings, as 'shownin Fig: 5. =-This is the positionof the 'pa'rts 'in Fig. -11. Nowiif the motor be reversed, "so that the driving sprocket 5| is moved in a clockwise direction as "viewed'in the diagrams, this pulls on the-right hand-portion of the lower reach of thechain and since the chain cannot nowmove relative to the carriage,

because 0f the engagement of "the heads '11, the

carriage is drawn to the left, carrying "with-it the container; "so that the' parts come into the position shown in Fig' ::12 where the container is centrally positioned ovei the truck. 7

When the container comes into central position on the truck, thepush-andj-pull bar is -removed i from the carriage 'chainand'contai-ner,='and it is only necessary to operate the driving-sprocket 51 in the counter-clockwise direction to .pull' the carriage back to original mid -portion." The truck is then ready for transportation movement"after the-bridges'have beendisconnected from the car and the container" s'uit'ably'locked on the truck. This is the position illustratedin Fig.3.

When a truck arrives'loaded adjacent the flat car, the-firstoperationi's to rotate the driving sprocket 5| in the clockwis'e'direction, thus pulling the carriage'out to the-left. as 'shownin Fig. 13. Then the push-and-pull bar is attached to the chain, with the *arms IBYtoWa'rd the right; as shown in Fig.- 13, and then the movement of the driving sprocket 5 I' in the I clockwise -'direc-'- tion is continued. --This tends to pullthe carriage farthertoward-the left, butit cannotmove in that direction by reason 5 of --the-- engagement 1 of the hooked lower'end' 95 0f the carriage "with fixed stop pins projecting inwardly from the vertical flanges-1 2 on the 'tr'uck.-' Accordingly-, the 1 chain travels on the carriage, and the 'upper reach of the chainmoving toward'the right car- 7 ries the parts into the position shown in Fig. 14,

portion'of the lower reach of the chain and, as

the upper-reach is anchored'by the parts 16, the whole carriage must moveftoward the right. This movement continues until the container is in proper position on-the-flat car,- as shown in Fig.

15, after which the push-and-pull bar is de-- tached and the motor operated in the reverse direction to rotate the main-sprocket 5! in the clockwise direction, thus pullingthe carriage back to mid-position.

Suppose-the truck, carrying a loaded body a1- rives' adjacent a branch line highway truck adapted to receive the body'but not equipped with transfer mechanism, as indicated at C in Figs. 2 and 16. "In this case the main sprocket 5| is rotated in the counter-clockwisedirection, thus pulling the' carriage toward'the rightas far as it will go, which may result when the end of the carriage abuts the side of the adjacent flat car, as shown-in Fig. '16, or if there is no fiat 'car present when the hook at the rear end of the carriage engages the stationary stop 96 on the truck frame; -When the carriage is stationary,- in this extended-position the push-andpullbar is appliedgiwithfiarm' 1-6 towardthe left;

andthe motor is rotatedin the same direction as before, to carry the upper reach of the chain? toward the left; thusshoving-the container part- 1 way "onto the *branch line truck, as shownin Fig. 17. r 7

When the end of the push-and-pull banwhich.

engages thechain, reaches the left hand end of a its movement, the heads 1-1 drop into the open-' ings 29 of the carriage-and'lock'the--push andpull bar and chain both to the carriage; Now the direction of rotationof the motor'is changed,

so thatthe sprocket rotatesin a clockwise-direction which pulls on the right'handportion of The upper reach being anchored, the result is that the whole car riage moves to the left shovingthe container the lower reach of'the chain.

ahead of it. This movement continues'until the container :is in proper position-on thenbranch" line truck, as shown in -Fig.-18,whereupon' the--= push-and-pull bar is removed-and the carriage restored to normal-position.

It will 'be seen that our mechanism'is com'-- paratively simple in construction, comprising-ea sentially two endless propelling chains-two car'- them to anx'operating' motor. each carriage is taken directly by links of the lower reaches of the corresponding chains and it requires less force to pull the carriage by the chain than it would to propel the chain with the carriage remaining 1 stationary. Accordingly;

even though there is no'load Onthe carriage theinitial operation of the motorythough: it acts through the chain, is to shove the-carriagein one direction to the other as desiredto enable the attachment-of the push-and -pull bar." In

other words,'if the carriage is free to move'it will simply be carried along" on thechaim: resting upon its lower reaches illustrated in Fig.-'7.

If the push-and-pull -bar is attachedto' the chain alone (as when the carriage abuts the side-= of the car carrying the container) then the op-: eration of the chain in the direction to press-the the flat car so that it draws the container-with: it. Then when the anchored end'of the pushand-pull bar reaches the end of thecourse' which carriage against the flat car can-only result in the top-reach of the chain travelingaway from the chain is able to move it independentlyaof the carriage, it becomes automaticallyattached to thecarriage; and then the '-application of power in proper -'-direction-to the chain moves thecarriage and chain as a unit to continue the a ;movement of the container.

It will be seen, thatall movements desired in the shifting of the container are effected from a single motor merely by changing its direction of rotation atthe proper-timeh So far as the.; ,operator isconcernedall he need do is turn on themotor, then stop it andattach the push-and-i pull bars and. then turn on the motorfor: a'time' and then change its direction of rotationy'then I stop the 'motor and detach the push and-pull bars when the container is'in transporting posi--:

tion; and fin'ally restore thefcarriagerto norn'ial positiom When thehighway truck is about to travel,-the

container is locked to the truck bysome-suitable' mechanism 'not shown, and the carriagesrmaybe locked so that they cannot inadvertently shift to either side of the truck. This lateral-locking may be effected-icysuitable-inter-engaging mechanism between the carriages and'truck. or 1 ibyinter locking thecarriages to their chains,-- b e-;

'the sprocket wheel.

' 5. The combination of movably mount'ed thereon, means for limiting I the movementof the carriage away from. the -vecause the'chainsare self-locked due to the worm and wormwheel in the reduction-gearing between the motor and driving sprocket. A con-, venient means for locking the chain is a suitable clutch or dog to engage one of the-sprockets on the carriage. Such a device might, alsob'e used to insure the carriage moving laterally to its limit when the chain sprocket .is rotated, if there should be any binding of the carriage in its housing, due to accidental distortion of-the parts or an abnormal accumulation of rust or dirt during a period of disuse.

The bridges for attaching the truck to the railway car preferably have a loose play connection in the attachment to compensate for. difference in spacing between the car and truck. This loose play connection leaves the edge of the truck adjacent the car free to move up and down on the truck springs as the proportion of the weight of the load at such edge varies in shifting the container. Now with our improvedtransfer mechanism the engagement -of the carriages with theside of the car has the additional advantage of forming a steadying connection between 'thetruck and car reducing the tipping tendency during the transfer from the car to the -truck. a

We claim'i e 1. The combination of a vehicle, a carriage bodily movable thereon beyond the edge o fzthe carriage lengthwise thereof in such manner that the carriage restson the reach of the chain beneath it so that the travel of the chain may move the carriage, a driving sprocket'on-the vehicle the. chain .with 'the carriage to prevent independent I movement, means on the vehicle'for driving the chain, land wmeans to connectthe chain withith'e container. f g 3. Th-jcombimition-of. a highway truck, a. transversely extending guideway thereon, a car riag'e mounted in the guideway and movable to either side or the truck, an endless chainzin the guideway looped about the carriage lengthwise.

thereof with'the carriage resting on the under reachjof the chain, so thatthe chain may move the carriage, a sprocket wheel on the truck meshing withthe chain',1means for rotating such sprocket whe'el'to cause the chain'to travel and therebymove the carriage if it is free' to move, 'and' meansfor connecting the chain with the container.

4; Thejcombination of a vehicle, a carriage 'fshiftably mounted thereon, an. endless chain mounted about sprockets onthe-v carriage adja-' 'fcent the'opposite ends thereof, a sprocket wheel onithe'vehicle for driving the chain, the carriage resting on the chain between, theends of the carriage and said sprocket wheel, and a reversible motorand reduction gearing for rotating "a vehicle, a carriage hicle, anendless chain on the carriagelooping around supports adjacenteach' end of the carriage, means forso connectingQthechain to the carriage that the :chain may move .the'carriage, a sprocket on the vehicle :interm'ediately engaging the chain, and a, push-and pull bar adapted to connect the chain' withlthe container Yto'be moved. l

6. The combinationlof' a-vehicle, a transverse guideway thereon,,.-a carriage movably mounted in the guideway to project beyondv either side of the vehicle, said carriage having wheels adjacent its ends and abutment faces beyond, the wheels, anendless chain looped around such wheels and having an upper, and] a lower reach,.a sprocket wheel on thevehicle which is .engagedlby th lower reach of the chain, a second vehicle alongside of the vehicle described and at such rela tive elevation that the end of the projected car.-

v no vehicle, an endless chain extending around the 5'35 engaging the chainjandmeans to connecta riageabuts. the side of the said second vehicle, a bridge connecting the, two vehicles and limits ing their'approach. and separation, meansfto connect the upper reach of, the chain with a demountable body which may ride 'on either viahicle, and means for operating said sprocket wheel on the vehiclein either diretionl I l .7. The combination of .avehicle, a .pair, of guideways thereon, a'pair of carriages movably mounted in the guideways, a pair of endless chains mounted respectively on the carriages on supports adjacentrthe ends thereof,lthere" being such connection between the carriage and chain that the'chain may move the'carriage, the lower reaches. of 'said, chains passing'into engagement with sprocket wheels on'the vehicle-a driving shaft for operating the two sprocket wheels on the vehicleand a reversiblemotorfor operating the shaft. v a i 8. In a transfer systerneof the character. de-

scribed, the combination of a vehic1e,,a carriage bodily shiftable onthe vehicle, an endless chain onthe carriage, means, onlthe vehiclefor. 'mov- A5 the under reach of the chain, means to. connect ing the. chain; means by which the movement ofthe' chain may movethe carriage, means for attaching container to the chain, 'and' means for attaching the chain to, the carriage. T 9. The combination of ,a vehicle; a carriag movably mounted thereon, an endless chain mounted on the carriage, a sprocket onthe ve- :hiclewhi'ch the chain engages, a reversible motor for rotating the sprocket,'andafpush-and-pull bar removably connected at oneendthereoftjo .acontainer and provided at theother end with means for attachment to the chain and means for attachment to the, carriage, whereby the container may be attached to'the chain or to the carriage for movement by either of them.

10; The combination of a highway vehicle, a

transverse guideway thereon, a carriage mounted passing around wheels on the'carriage, adjacent taching the chain to the carriage.

in the guideway adapted tomove to .either side of the vehicle, anendless chainon said carriage the ends thereof, means for supporting the upper reach of the chain between the wheels, a sprocket carried by'the vehicle in engagement with which the lower reach of the chain extends, means for rotating said sprocket in either direction,

stopsto limit the, movement of the carriage ,in

either, direction, and means for attaching the chain to a demountable container and for at- 11. The combinationrof a vehicle, a gui dew,

for operating the,chain,' a "demountable icony thereon, a shiftable' carriagemon, the guideway,

a chain on the carriage, means on the vehicle 75v tainer, and a push-and-pull, baradapted to be connected at one end to the"container and at carriage for Supporting the pper reach of the chain between the wheels, a driving shaft rotatably carried by the vehicle frame, a sprocket on said shaft engaging the lower reach of the chain, the carriage being. free for movement due toapull by the. sprocket on the lower reachof the chain, a reversible motor carried. by the vehicle frame and connected with the sprocket, means .for attaching the upper reach. of the chain to a container to be moved to or fromthe vehicle, and means for attaching such container to the carriage.

13. The combination of a vehicle, a bodily shiftable carriage thereon, an. endless chain on the carriage extending lengthwise thereoftand movable relative thereto, means whereby the chain tends to move the carriage when the latter is free for movement, driving means'mounted' on the vehicle independently ofthefcarriageiand engaging the chain, a stop limiting. the move ment of the carriage, whereby the chainimay shift the carriage until the latter encounters the stop and thereafter may move relative to the carriage, and means adapted to connect the chain with a container to be shifted toward or from the. vehicle.

14. In a system of transferring freight, the combination of a truck, a carriage shiftably mounted thereon, an endless chain on the carriage, a container adapted to ride on the truck, I

a push-and-pull bar connecting the chain to the container, means for shifting the carriage and chain relative to the container on the truck, means for shifting the chain, container and connecting push-and-pull bar relative tothe carriage and truck and means for shifting. the carriage, chain, push-and-pull bar and container as a unit relative to the truck.

15. The combination of a vehicle, a bodily shiftable carriage thereon, an endless chain, on

the carriage extending lengthwise thereof and with a container to be shifted toward or from the vehicle, and a bridge carried by the vehicle and adapted to be attached to the other member to or from which the container is to be shifted.

16. Container transfer equipment for a vehicle, said equipment comprising: a bodily shift-' able carriage on the vehicle and adapted to project from a side thereof, an endless chain on the carriage, a push-pull bar extending lengthwise of said chain and connected at one end to said chain, said bar'at the other end thereof being adapted to extend beyondfsaid chain, carriage and-vehicle for connection to a distant container to-be transferred to the vehicIe-,-means for driving said chain, and" means for-transmitting the drive of said chain to said carriage to therebyshift said carriage, f

17. The combination-of avehicle, a pairof parallel carriages slidably mounted on the vehicle, an endless chain mounted-on each carria e and extending along the carriage parallel with its path of movement, means on the vehicle for propelling the chains, means preventing independent movement of the carriages-and chains whereby the chains may move the carriages, and push-andip'ull bars extending-- lengthwise of the chains to'connect the chains-with acontainer whichrmay stand beyond the end of the chain.

18, The combination of a vehicle, atransverse guideway thereon, a carriage ,slidably mounted in the guideway to *moveto the side of 'thevehicle, an endless chain on the'carriage, a driving sprocket on the vehicle engaging the chain, meansifor anchoring the chain to the carriage whereby thesprocket may movethe chain and carriage as a unit, said'carriage' being formed at its end with a fiat head to abut the side'of-a railway car, a demountable body adapted'tobe received on the railway car and means for. connecting said body to the chain. I V

19. The combination of" a 'vehicle having a guideway, a carriage movably, mounted in the guideway, a chain on the carriage, means for anchoring the chain to the.carriage,,;and" a sprocket wheel on the vehicle for operating the chain and by the chain operating the carriage, said carriage being provided at its end with cushioning meansv to abut the. side pfa railway car. x

2 0. The combination of a vehicle, a shiftable carriage thereon, means for moving the carriage, a movable chain on the carriage, a push andpull bar provided with means. for. engaging the chain, and ananchor carried by. the push-and.- pull ,baradapted to engage thecarriage;

21, In a freight transferring mechanism, the

combination of 'a vehicle, abodily: movable carriagethereon, an endless chain looped about the carriagegmeans on the vehicle for drivingfi the chain, a push-andpull" bar adapted to. connect the chain with a container," and an anchor-connected to the push-and-pull bar, said anchor being adapted to engage the carriage for connecting the push-and-pull'bar thereto;

22; The combination of a: vehicle,.a shiftable carriage thereon, an endless ,chainextending ports at each end thereof, a push-and pull bar having a jaw adapted to connect ,with j the chain, and an anchor pivoted to,the'puslL-and pull bar, and adapted to engage the. carriage.

23. A system of transferring freight/comprising a vehicle, a bodily shiftable carriage thereon, anendless chain on the carriage, means onthe Vehicle for operating the chain, meansfoncausing the carriage to rest on the chain a-region where the chain is supported whereby the movement of the chain may shift. the carrlageand means for connecting the chainto a container to be shifted, whether the container is oventhe chain or distant therefrom. J

24. A system of transferring freight comprising a highway vehicle, a carriage thereon, an endless chain looped around thecarriagaa Icon.- tainer adapted to restion the vehicle, meansfor driving the chain and thereby shifting the carriage and chain relative to the vehicle and container, means for attaching the container to the chain, means for preventing movement of the carriage whereby said driving means may shift the chain and container relative to the vehicle and carriage, and means for attaching the container to both the chain and carriage whereby said driving means may shift the carriage, chain and-container as a unit relative to the vehicle.

25. A frame slidably mounted on a vehicle, sprockets rotatably mounted on said frame near the ends thereof, an endless chain running over said sprockets, a bar arranged to be connected at one end to a container on the vehicle, a dog on the other end of the bar arranged to be connected to the chain, means for driving the chain to move th container through the bar relative to the frame, and a member'cn the frame arranged to be engaged by a member on the chain to cause the frame to move with the chain.

26. A frame slidably mounted on a, vehicle, sprockets rotatably mounted on said frame near the ends thereof, an endless chain running over said sprockets, a bar arranged to be connected at one end to a container on the vehicle, a dog on the other end of the bar arranged to be connected to the chain, and means for driving the chain to move the container through the bar relative to the frame, said dog being arranged to cause the frame to move with the chain.

27. A frame slidably mounted on a vehicle, sprockets rotatably mounted on said frame near the ends thereof, an endless chain running over said sprockets, a bar arranged to be connected at one end to a container on the vehicle, a dog on the other end of the bar arranged to be connected to the chain, means on the vehicle for driving the chain to move the container through the bar relative to the frame, and a member on the frame arranged to be engaged by said dog to cause the frame to move with the chain.

28. The combination with a vehicle of equipment for transferring freight containers to and. from the vehicle, said equipment comprising an arm, guiding means on the vehicle for slidably receiving said arm, a chain for driving said arm along said guiding means in a substantially rectilinear, longitudinal movement between a position in which one end of said arm extends outwardly from one side of said vehicle and a position in which the other end of said arm extends outwardly from the opposite side of said vehicle,

29. Container transfer equipment adapted for.

mounting on a vehicle for transferring a container to or from the vehicle and from either of two opposite sides of the vehicle, said equipment comprising: an arm slidably mounted on the vehicle for longitudinal, rectilinear movement into and between outwardly projecting positions at opposite sides of the vehicle, a push-pull bar extending longitudinally of said arm and adapted at the outer end thereof for connection to a container to be transferred relative to thevehicle, and a chain adapted to drive the inner end of said bar from adjacent one end to adjacent the other end of said arm and to drive both said arm and said bar with said inner bar end positioned adjacent either end of said arm.

30. Container transfer equipment adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for transferring a container to or from the vehicle and from either of two opposite sides of the vehicle, said equipment comprising: an arm member slidably mounted on the vehicle for longitudinal, rectilinear movement into and between outwardly projecting positions at opposite sides of the vehicle, a pushpull bar member extending longitudinally of said arm and adapted at the outer end thereof to be detachably secured to a container to be transferred relative, to the vehicle, means providing disengageable driving connection for the inner end of said bar member with said arm member adjacent either end thereof, and a chain adapted to engage one of said members and drive said arm member, said bar member, and said container relative to the vehicle with said inner bar I end connected to said arm member adjacent either end thereof.

BENJAMIN F. FITCH. RAGNAR A. NORBOM. 

